Green sets scoring mark for defenseman as Capitals top Lightning

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Michal Neuvirth made a splash in his
NHL debut Saturday, but it was Mike Green who once again stole
the spotlight with a record-setting performance.

Green established an NHL mark for a defenseman by scoring in his
eighth straight game and Neuvirth made 31 saves to help the
Washington Capitals post a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay
Lightning.

Alexander Semin added a tally and two assists and All-Star Alex
Ovechkin scored his league-leading 38th goal of the season for
the Capitals.

With Washington already ahead, 3-0, thanks to a trio of
first-period goals that chased rookie netminder Mike McKenna,
Green broke the record held by Mike O'Connell of the Boston
Bruins at 5:33 of the second period with his 22nd goal of the
season.

"It was a pretty cool thing," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau
said. "I was so proud of Mike, and I was really, really happy
that his dad was here to see it. That's really special."

During a power play, Green unleashed a shot that was blocked.
But he picked up the loose puck and slapped it past goaltender
Karri Ramo from between the faceoff circles for the
record-breaking tally.

"It seemed like they weren't very responsible, back door and in
the slot," Green said. "So I kind of had to slip in there, and
I'm playing with some of the best players in the world. It's
incredible."

O'Connell scored in seven straight games during the 1983-84
season.

Blue-liner Shaone Morrisonn and Eric Fehr also scored and
Nicklas Backstrom recorded a pair of assists for Washington,
which improved to 5-1-1 in its last seven games and has won
eight straight meetings with Tampa Bay.

Ryan Malone netted the lone goal for the Lightning, who fell to
2-5-1 in their last eight games and 2-2-0 on their six-game
homestand.

"I felt a couple of times, we had pucks in the slot and we were
passing it, and that's the one thing that kind of upsets me.
Shoot the puck, get to the net," Tampa Bay interim coach Rick
Tocchet said. "You stress in practice, 'Don't be fancy, shoot
the puck, no cross-ice passes, short shifts.' You stress all
that stuff, and it seems like when it's 3-0, sometimes you get
away from that."

Malone's tally spoiled an otherwise spectacular debut for
Neuvirth, who was great with the glove throughout while facing
only four shots in the third period.

"I still can't believe that. That was the best feeling ever,"
Neuvirth said of the win. "I still can't believe my parents saw
my first NHL win. It was amazing. What can I say? It's
unreal. I was feeling more comfortable with every save I made.
That was a great job from the guys, and I just want to say
thanks to them. They played perfect."

"(Neuvirth) was probably nervous handling the puck in the first
10 seconds," Boudreau said. "But after that, I thought in the
first period, it was a 3-0 first period, and he made some great
saves and kept us in the game. That's what you need goalies to
do."

Semin, who returned to the lineup after a one-game absence due
to an undisclosed injury, worked with Backstrom on a nifty
give-and-go to put Washington ahead at 5:02 of the first period.
Ovechkin and Morrisonn also tallied in the first period to run
McKenna, who made nine saves before exiting the contest.

"We lost the game 5-1, that's a pretty good inclination of how
poor it was all around," McKenna said. "I wish I would have
been a lot better in the first so it would have given us a
chance to come out of that even."

The NHL leader among defensemen in goals and points (50), the
23-year-old Green had his initial shot blocked by Matt
Pettinger. But his relentless effort paid off as the native of
Calgary etched his name into the record books while giving
Washington a 4-0 lead.

"I wasn't really expecting that," Green said of the entire team
coming onto the ice to celebrate. "But it was exciting. It
almost brought a little tear to my eye, so I was pretty jacked
up."

Green is just one away from matching the franchise record for
consecutive games with a goal shared by Alan Haworth and Mike
Gartner.

Ramo made 18 saves during his two periods of action in the third
of six meetings between the Southeast Division rivals.